Mixed Team Rules & Classifications

Sec. 1.  Five male and five female players must be in the lineup at all times (six and six if A.H. is used). Any five male and any five female players must play defense. Exception: A minimum of 9 players can start a game. However, there must always be five female players in the lineup. An out shall be declared in the tenth position of the lineup when that position is scheduled to bat. A tenth player may be added in the tenth position of the lineup at any time before the end of the game. That added player must be male.

Sec. 2.  The 11 inch softball will be used when a female is batting and a 12 inch softball will be used when a male is batting. It is an appeal play when the wrong ball is pitched to a batter. If the appeal is allowed, then the batter returns to bat with the same ball and strike count he/she had at the time of the pitch. Also, any Base Runners must return to the base occupied at the time of the pitch.

Sec. 3.  In the Mixed Program, teams starting with 12 players may drop down to 11 or 10 players, but can not have more males than females in the line-up. For example, if a female player is removed from the line-up, the male player following her in the line-up must be removed. All vacant spots in the line-up will be declared an out every time that position in the line-up is due to bat. If a team starts with 9 or 10 players, they are not allowed to add the 11th or 12th player at a later time. Any player that leaves the game for any reason may not return to the game. (This does not apply to normal re-entry and substitution). Exception: A player, who has left the game under the blood rule, may return. Note: The defensive team may walk the preceding batter or multiple batters to get to the position or positions in the lineup that is an out due to having started with 9 players or having dropped to 11 or 10 players. There is no base appeals allowed when this results in the third out of the inning. Male and female players must alternate in the batting order. Note: If a team starts with 9 players, a female player must occupy the first position in the batting order.

Sec. 4.  When a male batter receives a base on balls or intentional walk, he will be awarded first and second base with the next female batter having the option to walk or bat. 
NOTE:  If the next female chooses to walk, it is not considered an intentional walk for the purpose of making an appeal.

Sec. 5.  The winner of the Mixed D Divisions in all Mixed National Tournaments and NIT's with seventeen (17) or more teams must compete the following year in a higher mixed classification.

Sec. 6.  The Mixed Program shall feature four divisions that will be called Major, C, D, and E.

1. Teams or individuals not reclassified by the By-Laws will be classified by their respective State/Area Director.

Sec. 7.  A Mixed Major team shall be allowed only two male players whose names appear in the association's major player list. Mixed Class C, D or E teams shall not be allowed to have any Male Players whose name appears on the USSSA Major Player List or who competed during the season on Men’s A teams or higher. Also, any player whose name appears on the Player “Watch List” will not be eligible to participate.

Sec. 8.  The Run Rule in Mixed NIT's, National Tournaments, and World Tournaments that awards a win to a team ahead in a game after 4 or more innings is 20 runs, or 5 or more innings is 15 runs.

Sec. 9.  The Mixed Program 12 inch softballs must be the Elite or Majors ball.

Sec. 10.  In the Mixed Program, the tournament director has the option of permitting the following: on a fair fly ball hit over the fence for a home run, the batter and all base runners are credited with a score. The batter and any runner on base do not need to advance and touch the bases. They should go directly to the dugout area. This would eliminate any base running appeals.

Sec. 11.  In the Mixed Class C Program, after a team reaches its home run limit (2 home runs), any batter who hits an untouched fair ball over the fence will be declared out.

Sec. 12.  Any player, male or female, in the Mixed D (National Rule for Mixed D, there is no penalty for hitting an untouched HR, it would just be declared an out) or Mixed E Division, hitting an untouched home run over a fence of 300 feet or more shall be ruled out. Each subsequent time that position in the line-up is due at bat, the batter shall automatically be declared out. The player shall remain in the game for defensive purposes only. This applies to any substitute in that batting position. Mixed E teams are those “park district non-tournament type teams”.

NOTE: The former restrictions of male and female players allowed to participate in each classification has been lifted and the above criteria will allow more participation in the Mixed Program.

Teams may play in any or all of the below listed State Tournaments and do not have to qualify to participate. World berths will be awarded to Mixed World Tournaments from the State Tournament(s).
Note: You qualify for World Tournament by participating in State Tournament. It does not matter where you finish.

For more information regarding the Mixed Program and Homerun limits go to the By-Laws/Rules and/or go to National Web site at www.usssa.com “2008 Rulebook”.

2008 Tournaments